Day one of racing at the 11th annual A Day in the Dirt is in the books, and the second and final day is underway. Saturday’s action saw the 30+ Vet GP, the Stunt team race, the Beginner/Novice GP, the North vs. South GP, the Vintage GP, the Minis, and the Film GP.

And even though A Day in the Dirt plays host to a more laid-back atmosphere, the racing is very real. Check out some more photos from Saturday’s action…

:)

The 11th annual A Day in the Dirt presented by Troy Lee Designs and Elrod Racing is underway, and the racing is already crazy! The vintage guys and the women kicked things off the individual racing this morning while the Stuntman race got things started for the team racing. Take a look at the photos so far and check back all weekend for more action from LA County Raceway.

Gopher Dunes
4385 Hwy 59
RR#1 Courtland, ON

This is one of the best MX tracks in Ontario!


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England - Devon

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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What do we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Well, our TWMX receptionist Kristen of course! A big fan of motocross herself—she has actually swung a leg over a bike before—be sure to leave a comment. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

The Australasian SuperX Series has been absolutely dominated by Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed this season. As Reed accounts for about 50 percent of the promoting partnership of the championship series, he has successfully utilized his celebrity to help promote the series while simultaneously training for the upcoming AMA Supercross Series. So, it has been no surprise that Reed has won every moto he’s lined up for; that is, until this past weekend.

Round six of the SuperX Series played host to a unique man v. man elimination format as well as welcomed Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath as a competitor. Before the gates dropped, most probably bet on McGrath and Reed squaring off against each other in the final, but to everyone’s surprise, neither racer made it past their semi final. Instead Jay Marmont picked off Reed in their head-to-head semi and Daniel McCoy edged out McGrath in theirs.

At the end of the night, it was Marmont who took the overall and kept his championship hopes alive heading into the seventh round.

Super X Top ten results;
1 Jay Marmont, 25
2 Daniel McCoy, 22
3 Chad Reed, 20
4 Jeremy McGrath, 18
5 Brent Landman, 14
6 Gianni Dalle Molle, 14
7 Cheyne Boyd, 14
8 Troy Carroll, 14

Super X Top five championship standings;
1 Chad Reed, 145
2 Jay Marmont, 131
3 Cheyne Boyd, 101
4 Daniel McCoy, 99
5 Troy Carroll, 88

Super X Lites top ten results
1 Tye Simmonds, 25
2 Matt Moss, 22
3 Ryan Marmont, 20
4 Joshua Cachia, 18
5 Todd Waters, 16
6 Matt Ryan, 15
7 Dean Ferris, 14
8 Danny Anderson, 14
9 Luke Davis, 13
10 Louis Calvin, 12

Super X Lites top five championship standings;
1 Matt Moss, 141
2 Tye Simmonds, 99
3 Ryan Marmont, 94
4 Luke George, 90
5 Danny Anderson, 82

Australasian Freestyle Motocross Championship results;
1 Levi Sherwood, 25
2 Cam Sinclair, 22
2 Kain Saul, 22

Australasian Freestyle Motocross Championship standings;
1 Levi Sherwood, 117
2 Kain Saul, 108
3 Cam Sinclair, 92

Mase takes over the mic at the Big Air Bash, just in time to host a very entertaining mini bike race, oh yeah there was a freestyle demo also

To many, taking the time to tighten your spokes may seem quite basic and lack any type of proper technique, but that’s not the case. If you don’t give your spokes some accurate attention, they can easily puncture your tube. And when you do take the time to tighten spokes, make sure you follow the correct pattern. No, you don’t just tighten each spoke as you go: spoke one, spoke two, and so on… You must tighten every third spoke and it’s crucial that the torque of each spoke be no more than half a turn at a time.

Tools required: Spoke torque wrench, and proper heads. Heads vary from bike to bike.

STEP 1 Start at the rim lock and call that spoke number one. The most important thing to remember when you’re maintaining a wheel is not to turn the spoke more than half of a turn. If you turn the spoke more than a half-turn than it’s easy to pull the spoke off to one side or the other. Always make sure you turn the spoke to proper tension; sometimes it’ll need torque and sometimes it won’t. Also, it’s a good idea to keep your hand on the last spoke that you’ve tightened, that way you don’t get lost.

STEP 2 Maintain the pattern of every three spokes. Start with spoke number one right next to the rim lock, then skip spokes two and three and go straight to spoke number four. You’ll want to continue this pattern, by going from spoke number four to spoke seven, spoke 10, and so on. Continue torquing every third spoke until you return to spoke number one.

STEP 3 After you’ve made it through each revolution of the tire, it’s important to spin the wheel a few times to make sure it has an even pull over it. Also, always place your hand on the same spot of any wrench, whether it’s a torque wrench or a standard wrench. If you do that you’ll always be consistent with your pull. Being consistent is the key to having a strong wheel.

ouch

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Price: $95

This isn’t the first time Oakley and Troy Lee Designs have teamed up for limited edition eyewear; a while back, Oakley released the TLD Gascan sunglasses, and now they are back with a limited edition Crowbar goggle. Featuring all of the accoutrements the Crowbar is now known for: outrigger strap attachments, triple-layer face foam, and anti-fog lenses, the Troy Lee Edition boasts the familiar design from the very popular “Phobia” helmet from 2007.

The Crowbar is a favorite a the TransWorld offices, and we’ve are always stoked on anything Troy Lee and company touches, so it’s only natural that we would be drawn to these LTDs

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Kenny Alexander and friends talk about what A Day in the Dirt is all about, with footage of past events, the LACR track, and archive footage of desert racing. Check it out…

Video courtesy of InTheMomentMedia and Troy Lee Designs

www.adayinthedirt.com

It’s almost time for the new issue of TWMX to hit the newstands, but we couldn’t wait to show you the new poster model for January, Keltie. Don’t forget to check out her video as well.

GAERNE SG-12

PRICE: $559

SIZES: 7-14

COLORS: White, green/black, orange/black, black, red/black, blue/black

RATING: 9.5

WHAT IT IS: Gaerne has long been one of the leaders in the boot market, producing top-of-the-line footwear that has arguably become the benchmark for which a quality boot is measured. New for 2009 is the SG-12. Not designed to replace the long standing high-end SG-10, the SG-12 is rather supplementing Gaerne’s boot lineup by offering one of the most advanced boots money can buy. Featuring a completely redesigned chassis with numerous enhancements, the SG-12 is made to perform under the harshest conditions. The buckles aren’t new; rather they are made out of alloy and are the tried and true non-failure system that is found on the SG-10 boots. The shin guard is completely new and is now anatomically correct and adjustable for larger legs or knee braces, giving it a near perfect fit for almost anyone. The grip guard on the inside of the boot is made of rubber and offers padded protection from heat while still giving the rider excellent unobstructed grip on the bike. Next is the most important new aspect of the SG-12, the double stage pivot system, which provides excellent lateral support. Other smaller aspects of the boot include the new gaiter to keep dirt and water out of the top of the boot, a new stronger Supercross shank for increased support, and lastly a new insole, sole, heal cup, toe-box, and toe cap for improved comfort.

HITS: When we first slipped on the new SG-12, the first thing we noticed was the exceptional comfort. This boot is probably one of the most comfortable boots out there. One thing that was really liked about it was the fact that break-in time was minimal, as all it took were a few laps and the boot felt as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. We’ve been riding with a pair of the boots for a few months now—several times a week—and we have yet to break anything on them or have the sole wear out like other boots have in the past. As for the new double stage pivot system, we’ve twisted our foot in the boots a few times and the lateral support of the SG-12 is awesome. Unlike the older pivot system on the SG-10, which had an actual pivot at the ankle that you could feel while gripping the bike, the SG-12 has a seamless flat inside surface that makes gripping the bike easy. If we were to recommend a high-end pair of boots to anyone, it would likely be the SG-12.

MISSES: These boots are expensive, but be that as it may, it’s a small price to pay to keep your feet and ankles safe while pounding out laps at your local motocross track. The boots also tend to fit a size small, so it’s probably a good idea to try them on at a dealership before ordering a pair.

THE VERDICT: Despite the high price tag, we stand firmly behind the Gaerne SG-12 boots. They fit remarkably well, look killer, and offer a great amount of protection that not every boot does. Sure, you can spend a little less on a pair of boots, but they likely aren’t going to protect you as well as the SG-12 does.

Visit www.gaerne.com

Our January issue is just around the corner, and Keltie will be gracing the poster. Here’s a sneak peek at what you are waiting for…

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Here’s a quick peek at new Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ryan Morais in action at the Kawasaki SX test track. Mo looks healthy and fast, and is looking forward to an excellent season in 2009.

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We caught up with our part-time TWMX.com blogger Jake Weimer at the Kawasaki SX track this week, and asked him about adapting to the new bike and team, which coast he’ll be racing in Supercross Lites, and what his personal goals are for 2009.

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In addition to being the title sponsor of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, Monster Energy has signed a personal sponsorship deal with Ryan Villopoto. That said, RV2 will wear a black and green M helmet full time, joining Tim Ferry, Grant Langston and Jason Lawrence in the Monster Army.

Time to check in on our good friends Travis Pastrana’s and Nate Adams’ MO’ progress. They are three weeks deep into their respective MO’ journey.

As you might remember, Nate and Travis are growing Mo’s, so every week we’ll be documenting the growth of their Mo through photo and video updates on here at twmx.com and www.dcshoes.com/movember. Log on to donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation by sponsoring a DC rider’s Mo.

Click below to help support Nate or Travis on their quest for Mo history.

Support Nate Adams’ ’stache

Support Travis Pastrana’s ’stache

GET INVOLVED www.dcshoes.com/movember

Think you can rock the ’stache yourself? email own moustache pic to win a $250 online DC shopping spree.
Submission email: movembercontest@dcshoes.com
Contest details link: http://movember.dcshoes.com/contest

And don’t forget about DC’s Movember eBay Auction! It is live NOW, and will end this Saturday, November 22nd at 5 PM PST. Start bidding! Check out all the items items and get involved by CLICKING HERE or the direct ebay auction HERE.

How the ‘Mo’-vement Began
Movember, an Australian non-profit organization, was born in 2003 when a couple of Australian mates were enjoying a beer at a small bar in Melbourne and decided two things – men’s health issues needed a forum and the moustache was in dire need of a comeback. Their goal was to create a campaign that joined like-minded individuals while raising money for charity and having fun along the way.

Since 2003, Movember has turned into a truly global movement. In 2007, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain joined their Aussie counterparts by participating in the campaign. Since Movember’s inception, almost 200,000 Mo Bros have sported a Mo and more than $29 million has been raised globally for prostate cancer research, including $740,568 raised in the United States last year. Movember is the biggest international event supporting prostate cancer.

Less than a week after Austin Stroupe violently wrecked while testing, another Pro Circuit rider has taken a nasty dirt sample. Frenchman Christophe Pourcel has returned to the Pro Circuit camp this year to try and re-establish himself as he did at the Phoenix Supercross in ‘07. But after today, he may have a larger climb ahead of him.

Reports from the Kawi test track in Corona, CA say that Pourcel wrecked in near the exact same spot on the track that Stroupe did last week. As of now, it would seem to be a shoulder or collarbone-related injury, but we will update you as we learn more.

Need a little more urban in your step; a taste of Brooklyn as you stroll through the pits? Fox’s SLE may just do the trick. Gold accents, zebra print, velcro closure, and a high-top profile more prominent than Zack Morris’ Cons make the SLE stand out from the rest.

Price: $120.00

CLICK HERE TO BUY

RG3 Gen2 Triple Clamp

Application: All KTM SX Models (tested here on a ‘09 KTM 250SX-F)

Price: $309.95

Colors:  Machined (shown), Black, Orange

Rating: 9.5

What it is: The Gen2 Triple Clamp is the latest product to roll off the assembly line from RG3 Suspension. Made from high quality aerospace grade aluminum and hard anodized, the Gen2 Triple Clamp focuses on minimizing arm pump, reducing any vibration that may be felt in the handlebars, and also offering a less harsh feeling over square-edged bumps.

Hits: We must admit we were rather skeptical that we would actually notice any real differences in performance from the stock clamp to the RG3 clamp; however, with in a few laps, we could feel a noticeable difference in the handling and overall feel of the bike. While negotiating tight corners, the front end of our KTM 250SX-F felt very nimble, but not so much so that the front end wanted to push and take you down. And, thanks to the lighter feel up front, we were able to point the bike in any direction with relative ease and not worry about being sent into the no-man’s-land. In the past, we have also experienced headshake issues with our pumpkin when going through the small breaking bumps down fast straight-aways. However, with the Gen2 Triple Clamp, the headshake was dramatically reduced and allowed for a much smoother and enjoyable ride.

Misses: Performance wise, the Gen2 Triple Clamp far exceeded any of our expectations, however, with the economy being as sluggish as it is these days, the $309.95 price tag is rather steep. And, though it wasn’t a tremendous disappointment, it is worth noting that we did not notice a big reduction in vibration in the handlebars. However, we never noticed any issues with the vibration of the handlebars on our KTM to begin with.

Verdict: Though the 2009 KTM 250SX-F is one of the best handling bikes in its class, we were very impressed with the added improvements provided by the Gen2 Triple Clamp. Understandably, the price tag on the clamp may be a bit steep, however, if you’re looking for something to improve the handling and reduce headshake and vibration in your handlebars, we highly recommend you pick yourself up the Gen2 Triple Clamp from RG3. If you have the money, the upgrade is well worth it.

Contact: www.rg3suspension.com

PRICE: $50

RATING: 8.5

WHAT IT IS: For years, Dragon has been pumping out some original specs for all of us moto guys who may want to stand out from the rest. And like the customers they cater to, Dragon has recently stepped out on their own. Once a fledgling within an empire, Dragon has emerged independent once again. With its newfound independence, Dragon offers up the Vendetta, an entirely new frame design with a monstrous strap. This particular Vendetta model features a frame colorway reminiscent of a Mexican blanket, no doubt inspired by Hot Sauce himself. Also, the insanely wide strap boasts graphics that are very “south of the border” as well.

HITS: The most obvious departure from the original Dragon frame is the addition of outrigger strap attachments. In the past, Dragon has struck to a more traditional strap to frame marriage, but the outrigger is a welcomed addition to compensate for the countless helmet shapes out there. We really liked the fitment in the helmets we tried with the Vendetta. We experienced a good seal around the face as well as good goggle/face opening clearance. Another standout feature is the price. At 50 bucks, the signature Vendetta is far cheaper than most of the other LTD signature frames out there.

MISSES: Although Hot Sauce is the one who needs to like the design (’cuz it’s his signature goggle and all), we weren’t all that pumped on the Mexican blanket frame in correlation with the black and white strap…but that is just us.

THE VERDICT: The new outrigger system is a welcomed change and the wide strap sets the Vendetta apart from the other companies. Now, we weren’t blown away by the design elements, but there are other colorways out there to choose from. However, if you want to wave the Tedesco flag, you better be ready to go south of the border. For 50 dollars, you can’t go wrong.

Visit www.dragonalliance.com

Metal Mulisha compiled clips from the 1997 broadcast of the L.A. Supercross when Brian Deegan took the checkers and ghost-rode his bike over the finish line. Oh, the memories… Check it out.

Highlights from the Round 4 finale of the TransWorld Masters of Mini series from Beverly, Massachusetts.

SixSixOne has released their new Flight II helmets, and we just got our mitts on a Flight II Hybrid here at the TWMX offices. Much of the construction of the Flight II is either similar or exactly the same as its predecessor, but there are some big changes to graphics as well as some more subtle updates.

Obviously, the new colorways are the first thing to catch the eye, but almost immediately after we took in the new graphics we noticed the the new visor center bracket. The previous Flight helmet featured a locking switch on the top bracket, but many times it would not hold tight enough.The new system has larger mounts and a screw-tightening lock on top–works much better.

In our experience, the Flight helmets are both light and comfortable. Skinny wrecked in a 2008 Flight helmet about two months ago, but he has yet to “fully test” the Flight II Hybrid.

The Flight II features the removable, washable inner liner and cheek pads, and is Snell M2005 and DOT approved. They retail for $199.99 and are available in XS-XXL.

Check ‘em out at www.sixsixone.com

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Team Troy Lee Designs / Honda announced today a brand new roster for the upcoming 2009 AMA Supercross Series.

Joining the team will be: No. 47 Jimmy Albertson, No. 42 Jake Moss, and No. 63 Chris Blose.  All three riders will compete in the west coast lites series which kicks off January 3 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim.

Jimmy Albertson turned pro in 2006 after a string of amateur victories, including a Loretta Lynn’s 125cc Championship. In 2008, Jimmy started to turn some heads with a fifth place finish in the lites division at Daytona Supercross. The factory teams took notice. Amid the outdoor nationals, American Honda gave Albertson the opportunity of a lifetime. He was offered a ride to fill in for the injured Ben Townley on a factory Red Bull/Honda 450. Jimmy answered the call with sixth place finishes at Washougal and Steel City. Jimmy will live and train in Corona, CA so that he will be close to Troy Lee Designs.

“I am stoked to be a part of this team,” said Albertson upon arriving at TLD. “The helmets and gear are so cool, and the bikes look amazing. I can’t wait until Anaheim.”

At the young age of 20, Chris Blose already has three years of Supercross experience on his resume. In 2008 he had three top ten finishes in the west coast lites series and he backed that up with four top ten finishes in the 450 class at the nationals. He will get the chance to showcase his talent this year with the TLD team and it is an opportunity he does not plan to squander.

“I am so excited to be working with this team,” says Blose. “The opportunity to have a top-level bike under me and to work with a crew that has that much experience is something I won’t take for granted. I know I can be in the top five on a regular basis with that kind of support behind me. I can’t wait.”

Jake Moss will be missing at the opening rounds of the series but you will see his No. 42 machine under the TLD transporter. Just days after signing his contract, Jake crashed and suffered a serious injury to one of his thoracic vertebrae. The injury is healing well and Jake plans to be back on the bike before the first of the year. Expect to see Moss enter the fray sometime mid-season.

In addition to the new riders, TLD has made some other changes to its program. Bicycle legend Brian Lopes will be available to the riders for guidance on their physical training. David Pingree has been appointed to the Team Manager position, and will handle logistics and media relations. Jeff Ward and Jeremy McGrath will act as riding coaches for the team, getting the riders mentally prepared for each event and elevating them to the next level. Their championship-winning experience alone is a powerful tool for Jimmy and Chris as they prepare for battle.

Team owner Troy Lee has tremendous confidence in the changes, and is excited to get the ball rolling for 2009. “I think we’ve made some great changes to the team, and hopefully we’re onto something big. I’d sure love to get some of our guys up on the podium this year and I think we’re definitely in a position to do that.”

The AMA supercross championship kicks off January 3rd, at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, CA. For more information visit: www.supercross.com <http://www.supercross.com>

For the latest team info, news and videos, visit www.troyleedesigns.com <http://www.troyleedesigns.com> .

Whilst perusing our favorite A Day In The Dirt supporter’s YouTube videos, we came across their latest video of Jimmy Albertson running his TLD Honda at the private Honda SX test track. Check it out…

DVS Pro Carey Hart never slows down. When he’s not riding or designing his signature pieces for DVS, he’s working at his Tattoo shop Hart And Huntington or ordering shots for his friends at his newly opened club in Vegas, Wasted Space.

It’s hard to keep up with the guy, but DVS did their best and released a three part web video series highlighting Hart’s recent ventures. The DVS film crew followed Hart around for a week and got his take on his new Supercross team, took a virtual tour of his house, and talked about his new Vegas club.

“We spent seven days in Vegas shooting this thing,” says DVS Moto Team Manager Dano Legere. “It was a team effort that went into the making of this project—everything from the product to the video to the web site. This is by far the best project we’ve done with Hart.”

All three videos and Hart’s entire Holiday 2008 product line can be seen at http://www.dvsmoto.com.

RED BULL: NEW YEAR. NO LIMITS.

New Year’s Eve Event from Las Vegas to Feature 100-Foot-High Motorcycle Jump and Truck Back Flip
By Motorsports Stars Robbie Maddison and Rhys Millen, Telecast Live on ESPN

Santa Monica, Calif. (November 18, 2008) – Deviating from the standard New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking or save more money, two world-class athletes have resolved to break boundaries before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, at Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. in Las Vegas. Robbie Maddison will follow up his history-making motorcycle distance jump with another world-first performance. Rhys Millen seeks redemption for what was supposed to be a New Year’s celebration a year ago before a training accident derailed his plans, but only temporarily.

Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. will be televised live on ESPN/ESPN HD immediately following the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (approx. 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT). The show will also be simulcast live on ESPN360.com. Viewing of Maddison’s jump at Paris Las Vegas is free to the thousands of revelers on the world famous Las Vegas Strip.

LET IT RIDE

Having broken the Guinness World Record for a motorcycle with a leap of 322 feet, 7.5 inches over the length of a football field during the 2007 Red Bull New Year’s Eve event, Maddison will attempt a more finessed, but equally challenging jump this time. The 27-year-old Aussie will jump his bike more than 120 feet high and land on the top of the 96-foot-high and 40-foot-deep replica Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas. What goes up must come down, and Maddison’s not going to argue with physics. Upon completing the jump, he will then drop off the Arc and freefall 50 feet to a massive landing ramp below. Maddison’s impressive resume, in addition to his record-breaking distance jumps, includes a very successful freestyle motocross career. In March, Maddison leapt an astounding 378 feet in Australia.

“I had some doubts last year whether or not I could jump a football field,” said Maddison. “But as I practiced, I got more and more confident and realized I could pull it off; and I did, twice. This year, the doubts are way bigger. The jump has never been done before, but I’m confident in my ability and I believe that as I start training, the dream that seems impossible will become a reality.”

Millen will attempt to become the first person to complete and land a backflip in an off-road truck. The flip will take place at a location to be determined in Las Vegas. Millen’s flip demands the truck to travel a distance of 80 feet at a height of 50 feet. During his final practice before the 2007 New Year’s event, Millen overshot the landing, resulting in injury, damage to his vehicle and his withdrawal from the event. The 36-year-old New Zealand native is fully recovered and more determined than ever. Millen’s motorsports credibility is unrivaled. He was the 2005 Formula Drift champion and 2008 Red Bull Drifting World Championship winner, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb world record holder and has been the lead stunt driver in several commercials and movies, such as Dukes of Hazzard and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

“Last year we attempted what was before then thought impossible,” said Millen. “Laws of physics and vehicle dynamics were pushed to the limits with success, but failure came in one small miscalculation. My body can be broken but my mind cannot. This year, people will witness the first ramp to ramp back flip in an off-road truck - ever!”

Maddison and Millen will be practicing for their epic night at the Red Bull Compound training facility north of Los Angeles, which features massive foam pits for each athlete to safely prepare to make history.

Additional details for Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. will be released in the coming weeks. For event information, as well as information on Maddison and Millen, visit www.redbullnewyearnolimits.com.

It’s been several weeks since we joined Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto at Glen Helen during his first day on the all new 2009 Kawasaki KX450F, so we decided to catch up with our guest editorial columnist to see how his Supercross training is going. Needless to say, RV2 looked fantastic aboard his big KX450F. Be sure to prop this video if you like Villopoto’s riding, because he checks the web site often!

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One of the biggest challenges on a rough, whooped-out track is that section with the almost never-ending set of rolling whoops that seem to suck out all of your energy. As if these sections aren’t tricky enough, many are sculpted out of sand. In these cases, you have one hell of a ride ahead of yourself.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that rolling through a set of sandy whoops isn’t going to help you gain any time on the guy who seems to float over them as he blitzes through. But, then again, neither is swapping side-to-side out of control as you ignorantly pin it through the unpredictable section in a dangerous attempt to keep up.

Thankfully, this week’s tip features Josh Hill as he explains the best technique used to hammer through a set of sand whoops without exerting too much energy or losing any time.

ONE. “When you’re coming into a set of whoops like this, you really want to focus on the line you’re going to take. Also, you want to make sure that you’re coming into the section on the straight and narrow. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out your line when the whoops are curbed, but when they’re like that, you need to look really far ahead.”

TWO. “The next step is to shift up a gear and carry as much of your momentum as possible. If you’re going through a section such as this one in a low gear, you’re more than likely going to swap out. Being in a higher gear, however, allows less tension on the chain and the bike will want to glide through the whoops with ease.”

THREE. “If you’re comfortable in sections like this, all you need to do is come into it as fast as you can and grip the bike with your knees. It takes absolutely no upper body strength to get the bike through sections like this. It’s all in the knees and legs. By gripping the bike with your knees and legs, it will keep the bike straight, and it eliminates any chances for you to begin swapping out. ”

FOUR. “Lastly, you want to make sure you don’t fall into the holes. The moment you fall into the holes; that’s when you’re going to fall, start to swap, or you’ll be up in the air instead of gliding across the tops of the whoops. If you’re really out of shape, the best thing to do is to start planning your getaway from the bike. If you’re slightly out of shape, you need to stay on the gas because more often than not, that will straighten out the rear end.”

We caught up with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer at the factory Kawasaki test track this morning, where both of the riders were working with their trainer, Randy Lawrence.

New Zealand native Cody Cooper spent his 2008 outdoor National campaign aboard a less than factory Suzuki RM-Z450. Though Cooper wasn’t receiving full support from the factory, his impressive and consistent podium performances throughout the summer were enough to land him his first full factory ride in America aboard a Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha. We caught up with the friendly New Zealander recently to talk about his ‘08 outdoor season and his thoughts about competing in the 2009 Supercross season. 

Looking back on things, how do you feel your first full outdoor season in America went for you?

I think things went really well. I set some goals this season that I was able to accomplish–one of them being my starts. I also wanted to finish inside the top five overall in the points, and I ended up accomplishing that as well. I understand that a lot of people were injured, but a lot of people were telling me­–especially now that I’m figuring out Supercross–to stay in one piece. There are somewhere around 16 Supercross races and 12 motocross races, so it’s a long season.

You’ve inked yourself a deal with the Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha team for 2009. How are things going thus far?

Things are going really well! I enjoy the bike, and we’ve done a lot of testing so far. I enjoy North Carolina quite a bit. I have a house out there now, and just hanging out and being around the team is awesome. I train and ride with Josh [Grant] a lot, so it’s really nice to have a training buddy like Josh.

Are you excited for your first-ever Supercross season?

I know I’ll be a bit nervous at A1, but I am excited. We have about a month and a half to go, so I have a lot of time to work on a few things that I’m having trouble with. The main thing is just gaining more confidence in myself on a Supercross track, you know? I just need to learn a few little things that I know will help me out in the long run.

Was there a big difference jumping from a Suzuki to a Yamaha?

Not really because I rode Honda’s for most of my life, and when I switched over to Suzuki last year I felt fine. When I made that changed it really helped me out to know that I can ride other bikes and feel just as comfortable. Having that experience behind me made the jump to the Yamaha that much easier. Having all these guys on the team there to help me setup the bike makes things a lot easier on myself (laughs).

Is it nice going from the privateer-type setup you had this summer into a factory rig?

Well, I’m not too fast to be honest with you. In Australia I pitted out of factory rigs, so I guess over here I am with some faster riders and a different truck. I don’t know… It’s only a truck that holds a team; it’s nothing big (laughs). That bike is really good, though.

What do you hope to accomplish in Supercross?

I’m not too sure on that at the moment. We’re going over to Switzerland to do a Supercross race at the start of December, and I think once we do that I’ll have a better idea of where I stand and then start setting some realistic goals for myself after that. I obviously want to do really well come the outdoor season…better than I did this year. 

Lil’ Elmo caught up with James Stewart last week to see how the early stages of his new life at Yamaha are coming along…

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After a successful 2008 MX2 World Championship campaign, KTM’s Tommy Searle made the big move to the U.S. where he will compete in the nationals beginning in May. Last week at our TWMX ride day, the young British rider showed up to spin some of his first laps since the move.

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McGrath to Compete in Super X Australia

It was announced this weekend that Jeremy McGrath will join the Chad Reed-promoted Super X Australasian Supercross Championship for the final two rounds. Not Surprisingly, Reed has dominated the first five rounds of racing, sweeping the entire series thus far. We’ll see if “Showtime” can give Reed a run for his money.

www.superx.com

COOL G

As you all know, Grant Langston has been battling a a bad eye and good news still has yet to be reported. Cool G has remained optimistic and all of us in the racing world are pulling for him. Hopefully his eye will decide to cooperate and we will all see him back out on the track. Check out GL’s comments from the Yamaha Press Day last week…

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Stroupe Possibly Injured?

While checking in with Tim Ferry on Friday, we saw Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe doing some testing at the Kawasaki SX test track in Corona, CA. Stroupe looked quite fast and comfortable until late in the day when the young rider took a pretty violent spill. We aren’t sure how serious the wreck was, or if Stroupe suffered any race-altering injuries, but we will keep you posted as we learn more. Hopefully, all is well, and Stroupe is nothing more than a little sore.

Katherine Prumm Update

By now you must know that New Zealand native and former World Cup winner Katherine Prumm suffered a horrific crash last Thursday while training. Prumm suffered multiple injuries including cracked vertebrae. She underwent surgery yesterday where doctors fused her damaged vertebrae. Sources say she should be in a brace for at least three months. Get well soon Katherine!

Catching Up With…Broc Hepler

Whether it is in the Lites class or in the 450 class, Yamaha’s Broc Hepler has proven time and time again that he is a consistent threat for a podium spot. Unfortunately, injuries seem to frequent the Pennsylvania native more often than not. After breaking his thumb at A3 this year, Hepler sat out for a majority of the Supercross season before breaking his arm days before the opening round of the outdoor Nationals. Now, though, Hepler is healthy and ready to get things rolling as he prepares for his first full year in the 450 class.

What have you been up to since Steel City?
After the last outdoor National at Steel City I went over to Sweden to do a Supercross; things went well over there, and then I got ready for the U.S. Open of Supercross. The U.S. Open was a good race for us because it showed us what we needed to work on come A1, you know? So, I’m working on speed and strength right now.

Do you feel that the 450 suits you more than the 250F?
Well… I am getting used to it (laughs). The 450 is a lot to handle for Supercross, so I am just learning how to utilize all of that power to my advantage.

Obviously the 450 is a fast bike, so is there anything you guys do to actually slow the bike down some for the tight confines of Supercross?
We try to make the power more useable, you know? We try to get the power where we want it to be. Whether you rev it more…I usually don’t rev the bike much, so I want more power off the bottom. Besides that, we tend to spend a lot of time on the suspension and trying to find that sweet spot.

At the U.S. Open you had your starts dialed…
(Laughs) Typically I am an awful starter, but I’ve been working on them a lot this season. I think it has helped because I did pretty well at some of the outdoors, so I tried my best to carry that on over to the U.S. Open because you need a good start at that race to run up front.

What’s the plan from now until A1?
My number one plan is to stay healthy (laughs). It’s better not to ride than to wreck and get hurt. I need to be careful, but also gain some strength and be ready come Anaheim.

Where do you see yourself in the grand scheme of things in Supercross?
Right off the bat I’d like to say you’ll see me inside the top five. That is the goal for the first few rounds, and if I can achieve that I’ll start slowly making steps towards the front of the pack.

Hello Potential Benefactor:

My name is Scott Kandel.  I am the founder and Chief Altruistic Officer of Warthog Racing (www.WarthogRacing.com).  Warthog Racing runs a professional Supercross/Motocross race team – the largest team in the world.  We are unique in that we support professional racers called privateers that are resource disadvantaged and we work hard operating as a virtual not-for-profit to bring them resources like money and sponsors so our racers can compete to be the best in the world.  We only have one paid position on staff – the race team truck driver.  The dozens of others that help make Warthog Racing a reality are all volunteers, including myself and Darrell Saldana, the Race Director.

If you are a LinkedIn user, my profile will give you a quick synopsis of what I represent:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkandel

You might even want to join my LinkedIn group, “The Supercross/Motocross Hotspot – The Warthog Nation,” by clicking on the following link to better follow our program:

http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/87585

Our mission is to help deserving privateer racers live their dreams.  We’ve been living this vision since 2003.  Our program – The Warthog Racing Academy — provides the riders motorcycle transportation, pit set-up, mechanics, gas, food, water, hospitality, and rider marketing and promotion, as well as the opportunity for riders to “graduate” to better resources teams at any time during the season.  The individual riders are responsible for their own motorcycles, race entry fees, and travel expenses.

The economic turbulence of 2008 has not been kind to many of our potential riders.  Although the Warthog Racing Academy has attained enough resources to fund our infrastructure for the season, many of our riders with the greatest potential have come up woefully short with the money and resources needed to make it through the season.  These are excellent riders like Tyler Bowers, Sean Collier, Gavin Grayck, Michael Willard, Michael Blose, and Chris Blose plus many more.  There riders do not deserve to sit on the sidelines this year – there must be a way to help them succeed and live their dreams.

This is where you come in!!  You can be the personal TITLE sponsor of one of these riders in The Warthog Racing Academy.   Depending on the needs of the individual riders, contribution of ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 will make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the race careers of these riders!!  Anything will help.  As personal TITLE sponsor, you will have large co-TITLE sponsor decals on the rider’s race motorcycles and his race uniforms, as well as have the entity of your choice get top billing in the rider’s results sheets.  We will also provide VIP tickets and treatment to you and a guest at two Supercross events during the 17 race Supercross season (www.supercrossonline.com).  In a nutshell, you will be your own race team manager for the rider of your choice.

Here are some links to our 2008 season summary to give you a feel for what The Warthog Racing Academy is all about:

http://www.mxnewsfeed.com/article.php?artid=2016

http://www.dirtrider.com/news/141_0805_mdk_warthog_racing_outdoor_season/index

http://www.dirtrider.com/news/press_releases/141_0810_mdk_warthog_racing_motoconcepts_us_open/index.html

http://www.dirtrider.com/news/press_releases/141_0810_mdk_warthog_racing_sheffield_supercross/index.html

http://www.dirtrider.com/news/press_releases/141_0810_mdk_warthog_racing_sheffield_sx_results/index.html

Please let me know your thoughts at your earliest convenience as the season starts Jan 3rd, 2009.  I can provide you a lot more detail about our program if you would like to see it.  Let’s get these kids focused on racing so that they can continue to do amazing things,

Kind Regards,

Scott Kandel
Chief Altruistic Officer
Warthog Racing
213 268-2659

Or Darrell Saldana
Race Director
Warthog Racing
310 483-8113

While Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider Nico Izzi was having fun at the annual TWMX Thanksgiving ride day at Racetown 395 in Adelanto, we managed to capture this quick video of him spinning laps and throwing whips for our camera. 

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Check out a preview of the latest offering from Destroyer Films, Crossing the Line. The new Destroyer video takes you through the Canadian Nationals round by round with amazing footage, interviews, and race coverage featuring Colton Facciotti, Blair Morgan, Eric Nye, Kyle Beaton, Tyler Medaglia, Dusty Klatt, Jeff Gibson, Nick Wey, Jeremy Medaglia, Teddy Maier, Aaron Harvey, Tucker Hibbert…and many more! Buy your copy today from Destroyer Films and get a free subscription to TWMX! What more could you ask for?

www.destroyerfilms.com

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www.destroyerfilms.com

It’s that time again… Time to check in on our good friends Travis Pastrana’s and Nate Adams’ MO’ progress.

As you might remember, Nate and Travis are growing Mo’s, so every week we’ll be documenting the growth of their Mo through photo and video updates on here at twmx.com and www.dcshoes.com/movember. Log on to donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation by sponsoring a DC rider’s Mo.

Click below to help support Nate or Travis on their quest for Mo history.

Support Nate Adams’ ’stache

Support Travis Pastrana’s ’stache

GET INVOLVED www.dcshoes.com/movember

Think you can rock the ’stache yourself? email own moustache pic to win a $250 online DC shopping spree.
Submission email: movembercontest@dcshoes.com
Contest details link: http://movember.dcshoes.com/contest

How the ‘Mo’-vement Began
Movember, an Australian non-profit organization, was born in 2003 when a couple of Australian mates were enjoying a beer at a small bar in Melbourne and decided two things – men’s health issues needed a forum and the moustache was in dire need of a comeback. Their goal was to create a campaign that joined like-minded individuals while raising money for charity and having fun along the way.

Since 2003, Movember has turned into a truly global movement. In 2007, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain joined their Aussie counterparts by participating in the campaign. Since Movember’s inception, almost 200,000 Mo Bros have sported a Mo and more than $29 million has been raised globally for prostate cancer research, including $740,568 raised in the United States last year. Movember is the biggest international event supporting prostate canc

Here are a few more shots of the folks who joined in Thanksgiving festivities at Racetown 395.

Photos by Bayo Olukotun

British import, Tommy Searle, showed up to celebrate our country’s feast of feasts and enjoy one of his first rides aboard his new MDK/KTM factory ride. Tommy just finished second overall in the MX2 World GP series and had a stellar ride in front of his fellow countrymen at the Motocross of Nations. For 2009, the young rider has moved to the United States, but will be skipping supercross to focus on the AMA Outdoor Nationals this coming summer. Guests of the Ride Day got a chance to see Tommy spin some of his first laps here on American soil. Check out some of his photos, and check back later for some video footage of our Thanksgiving celebration. Photos by Bayo Olukotun

Today was the annual Yamaha Race Team Media Day at the Yamaha headquarters in Cypress, California. While Yamaha’s own Keith McCarty took the time to introduce all of the 2009 teams and riders, it was also an opportunity to sit down with the likes of James Stewart, Broc Hepler, and Josh Hill to discuss with them their goals and thoughts about the upcoming season. Aside from that, Yamaha featured stellar food, music and an FMX demo. 

Fox is excited to start a partnership with Factory Connection Racing’s GEICO Powersports Honda Team. We have been watching their impressive racing program for a few years and jumped at the chance to be part of such an exciting team. We look forward to many years of success together in the future. This is also a perfect compliment to Fox’s long-term partnership with Factory Honda Racing.

Team athletes will be wearing Fox Racewear and Goggles during the 2009 season, and then adding Fox Helmets and Boots from 2010 forward

Pete Fox, CEO, says, “GEICO Powersports Honda has established themselves as a leading race program that is vital to the transition of top Amateur racers into the Pro ranks. Fox has a 35 year history with helping develop the world’s best MX talent (most recently with Carmichael and Stewart), and being part of this team will be a key way for us to continue that into the future.”

CYPRESS, Calif. – November 14, 2008 – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., is proud to announce the 2009 Yamaha Factory Race Teams.  Yamaha, a leader in the motorsports market, announced its official race teams today for American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike road racing, Supercross/Motocross off-road racing, ATV cross country and motocross racing and Snocross racing.  The announcement was made at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters this morning in Cypress, Calif.

“Yamaha is excited to announce our 2009 Factory Race Teams across all of the thrilling motorsports that we support,” said Keith McCarty, Yamaha’s racing division manager.  “From top talent to up-and-comers, these riders have proven that they have what it takes to compete at the highest levels. Yamaha is a leader in racing technology and innovation, and we’re proud to support these riders and have them represent our brand.”

Yamaha Factory Road Racing:

Yamaha’s 2009 Road Race team includes returning riders Ben Bostrom and Josh Herrin, who are joined by new members Josh Hayes and Tommy Aquino.

Fresh off the 2008 AMA Supersport Championship, Ben Bostrom will compete on the all new cross plane crankshaft YZF-R1 prepared by Yamaha Factory Racing in the American Superbike class. Joining Bostrom on the YZF-R1 is multi-time Formula Extreme Champion Josh Hayes.

Competing in the AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship will be third year professional Josh Herrin aboard the Graves Motorsports prepared YZF-R6, and Tommy Aquino, the 2008 AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year.

Yamaha Factory Supercross/Motocross:

The Yamaha Factory Supercross/Motocross team includes Broc Hepler, Josh Hill and Grant Langston. Both Hill and Hepler are eager to begin the new season after strong finishes in 2008, and Langston plans to mentor the young riders as a team advisor until a vision problem improves.

Team L&M/San Manuel Band of Mission Indians made one of the biggest moves of the off season signing James Stewart to ride under their tent.  In 2008 Stewart had a perfect outdoor season, a U.S. Open victory and a dominating Bercy Supercross performance.  Fellow Floridian Kyle Chisholm moves up to the 450 Class as the team’s second rider.

After a solid freshman effort the Joe Gibbs’ Racing/Spike Energy/Toyota team has signed Josh Grant and New Zealander Cody Cooper to lead their 2009 charge.  

For the 2009 season, Star Racing will be Yamaha’s official 250F team.  Having worked together since 2005, Star Racing has proven itself a legitimate competitor and a great ambassador for the Yamaha brand.  The team will consist of Matt Lemoine, Broc Tickle, Darryn Durham and Michael Hall.

Yamaha Factory ATV Racing:

Yamaha’s ATV race team is comprised of record-holding and nine-time Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) champion Bill Ballance, who is considered widely as the best ATV racer of all time.  

Joining Ballance on the GNCC circuit again for Yamaha in 2009 is Traci Cecco, who holds an unprecedented seven GNCC women’s titles, and Brandon Sommers, who won the 2007 GNCC XC2 championship and finished fifth in his inaugural XC1 Pro level series this year.

Representing Team Yamaha on the ATV motocross tracks again in 2009 are Pat Brown, who won the Montreal Supercross at the Montreal Olympic Stadium this September, and Dustin Nelson, the 2008 Yamaha/ITP Quadcross MX Pro Class champion. Both riders will compete on the all-new motocross-inspired YFZ450R.

Yamaha Factory Snocross:

For 2009, professional racers Steve Taylor and Iain Hayden will pilot their race-modified FX Nytro sleds in the premier Pro Open class.  

Taylor returns for his second season on the track for Team Yamaha.  His highlights last year include two wins at the WPSA races in Cadillac and Gaylord, Michigan, as well as putting the first 4-stroke sled into the main competition at ESPN’s Winter XGames.

Hayden is new to the Yamaha team this season.  In 2006 he finished a perfect season on the Canadian National circuit, CSRA, going 16-for-16 and earning both the title and the Racer of the Year award that year.

More information on the entire 2009 Yamaha Factory Race Team is available at:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/events/racinghome/home.aspx

About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) is a leader in the motorsports market.  The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include motorcycles, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers in the United States. 

Transworld masters of minis race at cycles 128 2008

filmed and edited by me

It’s already the holiday season, and to celebrate, here at TransWorld Motocross we held our annual Thanksgiving Ride Day out at Racetown 395 Motocross Park. Complete with a turkey lunch everyone who attended had a blast. Below are some shots from our friend Steve Emter. Enjoy!

The all-new Shoei VFX-W is finally here. Take a look as Shoei’s own Bret Milan explains how the VFX-W came to fruition…

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 12, 2008) –MX Sports announced today the appointment of Jeff Canfield into the full-time position of AMA Toyota Motocross Series Director.

Canfield comes to MX Sports with a wealth of experience on the professional motocross level, having worked with AMA Pro Racing since January of 2000. Most recently, Canfield managed AMA Pro Racing’s sanctioning and officiating activities for the AMA Monster Energy Supercross and AMA Toyota Motocross series’.

“Jeff brings a great deal of racing knowledge to MX Sports,” said MX Sports President Carrie Coombs-Russell. “He has excellent relationships with the riders, team managers and mechanics. He served as series manager for AMA Pro Racing this past year and will make a smooth transition for 2009.”

Canfield, who will be headquartered at the MX Sports offices in Morgantown, W.Va., enters his new role with optimism, stating, “MX Sports has implemented a lot of exciting changes for the 2009 season that will really enhance the overall look and feel of motocross racing in the U.S. We have met with the teams and the riders in obtaining their input on these changes.”

The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship enters its 38^th season with a new look and schedule that features a one-day, Saturday racing format, a change from the traditional two-day format. The 12-race series kicks off on Saturday, May 23 from Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif.

For more information, please contact AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

About MX Sports

MX Sports, LLC, owns, manages and produces the two most prestigious and world leading Motocross championships – the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship and the Air Nautiques AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.

MX Sports is a second generation family owned business that has been in operation for well over 26 years and is an industry leader in the segment of off road/action sports race promotion in the United States.

Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts.    For more information on MX Sports, please visit www.mxsports.com.

Get the Flash Player to see this player. me and my dad riding at perris raceway, im in blue gear hes in red

By Brendan Lutes

Photos by Garth Milan

With the off-season in full swing, and the teams getting their new bikes and programs sorted out with countless days of testing, we decided to pick up the phone and give Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short a call to see how everything was going for the red rider. A few weeks ago, Shorty made the long trip to Japan to race the final round of the Japanese National Championships aboard the all-new CRF450R. Since returning from that, though, it’s been nothing but Supercross testing for the Colorado native. To see his thoughts so far on his new bike, testing, and his latest trip to Japan…

What have you been up to lately?

I just spent the last 10 days in Japan, which was a great experience for my relationship with Honda over there in Japan, and the HJC side of Honda over there makes a lot of the parts for our race bikes. I also did a race and it went awesome. I won both motos, but it was close; (Sebastien) Pourcel was over there and he gave me a run for my money. In the end, it was a great race for me, and a great trip, but I’m just glad to be back home. In a nutshell, that’s what I have been up to lately.

What was it like over in Japan? Have you ever been there before?

I actually did the same trip last year, so I knew exactly what to expect. In terms of the experience, though, it was just awesome. The culture over there is a lot different than here with the different transportation and way of life. It was cool, because everyone over there has the same common love for motorcycles and racing, which is a lot of the things that Honda stands for—that was really cool to see all of that. But the transportation with the trains it’s pretty amazing—those things go so fast. It’s a different experience for sure. The cities are really compact, and that’s what’s great about going out testing and riding, you get to see the countryside, places that you would never go if you just went to go visit. It’s fun and it seems like every year we visit a different track to test at. On this trip, I got to go to Motegi, which is a Honda owned race facility where they have twin rings for Indy car racing. They also have a museum with the history of all the bikes, so it was really cool to see all of that.

How’s Supercross testing been going for you?

It’s been going good. When you have a new bike, there is a lot to feel out. But that’s really exciting for me as a rider, and the team as a whole. It seems like we have a lot of opportunities and we’ve made a lot of ground so far. I feel really comfortable, and I love the bike. It seems like it turns really good and the power is so linear compared to the old bike, so it’s a lot easier for me to ride. It’s already so good and I know it’s only going to get better before we race Anaheim I.

How much time did you have on it before you raced the U.S. Open?

Not very much. I rode it at the end of the outdoor series just to kind of have a shake down of what the bike was about. I didn’t really have much time on it before the U.S. Open—I would guess I probably rode it about four or five times before that race. From the time I’ve hopped on the new bike, though, I’ve always felt more comfortable on it than the old one. It just gels with me and I feel really good on it. I think you can tell when you watch me ride it.

You’re an averaged sized guy. Do you think that the new Honda’s size and ergonomics fit you better?

It feels like a 250f to me. The weight is a lot more centered and it just doesn’t have that heavy feel. The front end also just carves now, where the old one seemed to push for my riding style. The power is also deceiving. It feels slow because of the power delivery, but when you put it on a clock—which the Japanese do—it’s amazing that it is faster, and when you jump back and forth between the two bikes, you can actually clear stuff a little easier. I like it, and it seems like it’s going to be an easier bike for me to ride for 20 laps.

We got a few press releases lately about you re-signing with Fly, but you will also be wearing their new helmet. Can you talk a little about that?

It’s great for me. I’ve always loved working with the guys at Fly and Western Powersports. The people that own the company are great, and that makes a big difference for me. I was really excited to start wearing their helmet. They have a new high-end helmet called the Formula, and it’s a whole new product for them. I’m really happy to be involved with it. It’s a great looking helmet. It’s always fun to wear something new. This year as well, I’ll be wearing Scott goggles (rather than Spy), and it’s a great combination for me. But more importantly the people that I work with make a big difference to me.

You’ve signed another two-year deal with Honda, and even though you’ve had another good year of results, was it difficult to find a ride with the state of the economy right now?

I think the silly season lasted a lot longer this year than it typically does, and I think the economy does raise some eyebrows and everyone is paying a lot of attention to where their money is going. They have to, though, because in the end the manufacturers are paying for all of us to go racing. I just feel very blessed to be able to do what I’m doing and get paid to race, and on top of that to be involved with Honda. It’s a great team and I wouldn’t really want to be involved with anyone else. It feels like a family to me. I’m going to be there for a total of six years, so I feel very lucky to have been on this team as long as I have. I’m pretty pumped, and in the greater scheme of things, to get paid to go racing is awesome.

What are your expectations for the 2009 season?

I would like to just go one race at a time and have fun with it. I know I’m prepared and I have a lot of the elements it takes to succeed in our sport, and I have to capitalize on those things and minimize my weaknesses. If I do that, I know the results will come. I don’t really have a goal of where I want to be, that’s kind of up in the air. More importantly, I’m just looking forward to going racing. I have a lot of new things to try, and I think seeing the results will be the exciting part. I can’t wait to line up on the gate after all the hard work is over.

Villopoto testing his 450 for SX 2009.

Villopoto testing his 450 for SX 2009.

That’s right, we’re still sifting through all the footage on Josh Hill’s video camera, looking for stuff that’s suitable for posting on TransWorldMX.com. Some of the stuff has entertained the editors plenty and would be suitable for the next Johnny Knoxville movie, but alas…this is a motocross web site, remember?

Anyway, this weeks episode of Josh Hill TV is called HOT LAP. Filmed by one of Hill’s buddies, this episode documents the ongoing lap time battle at the Yamaha test track.

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an introduction video that i will be putting on my videos

filmed at cycleranch and texas dirt slingers

PRODUCT REPORT

Shoei VFX-W

Price: Starting at $399.99

Application: Sizes XS-XXL in black, white, matte black and four different graphic schemes (red shown)

What it is: The VFX-W is the latest and greatest from the guys at Shoei. In addition to featuring a radical new shell design, it boats an all-new ventilation system that utilizes the raised ridges to flow air around your head. The chinbar is fully lined with eps for added safety, and in the event of a crash where the rider is unconscious or may have suffered a neck injury, the new emergency release system cheekpads allow medics to remove the cheekpads while the helmet it on the rider’s head, so that the entire helmet can be slipped off safely.

Hits: After riding in a flat black unit, I finally got the thumbs up to bust out our fresh new helmet with red graphics today as the TWMX staff enjoyed a day of testing at Starwest MX Park. After gently dropping the shiny new VFX-W on the ground to get the first crash jinx out of the way, I slipped the helmet on an noticed immediately how much more padding comes into contact with your head and face than when wearing the VFX-W’s predecessor, the popular VFX-DT. The cheek pads extend quite far forward, nearly coming into contact with the sides of my mouth. Though everyone’s face shape differs greatly, I was pumped to find that the cheekpads didn’t squeeze the heck out of my fat face.
The VFX-W is easily one of the most comfortable helmets I’ve ever worn, and everyone on the TWMX staff agrees that its aggressive new styling makes it one of the best-looking helmets around. Now, properly product testing a helmet involves a crash, and that is something that none of us are very anxious to do.

Sadly, I am pretty good at crash testing, and only a few laps into my first moto of the day, I slapped my head on the ground and wiped the new helmet luster off my VFX-W in an instant. Once in a while - when I’m feelin’ froggy - I will try to match the pace set by our speedy associate editor Brendan Lutes. Well, after having him tow me over a new double on the track, I did my best to latch on to his rear wheel. While cresting an off-camber hump that precedes a dip in the track, then a small double, Lutes’ rear wheel kicked up a baseball-sized dirt clod. Naturally, I ran over it just as I crested the hump, and flew down into the dip pancaked as flat as James Stewart after my front tire deflected off the clod. With my freshly healed wrists and new "never let go of the bars" mentality, the first thing to hit the ground was my head. Now, in my 17 years as a motocross journalist, I’ve become sort of an expert at hitting my head on the ground, and I’d say that on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being like the tractor tire I torpedoed with my face earlier this year), this one was about a 7. Thankfully, I jumped to my feet and dusted myself off, with no stars flying around my head or recent memory loss to speak of. Needless to say, there’s all sorts of ifs ands or buts when it comes time to predict what could have happened, but I am 100% comfortable saying that like many a Shoei helmet before it, the new VFX-W saved my ass.

Misses: Slipping the VFX-W onto your head is not a plush, luxurious experience, as it seems to be narrower at the opening than the existing VFX-DT. Once the helmet is on, it is super-comfy, but the way the helmet scrapes against your cheeks when you are pulling it on could be a less abrasive experience. As I said before, though, maybe it’s just my fat face…

The Verdict: Once again, Shoei has created a top-of-the line helmet that combines superior quality of construction, good looks and a high level of protection. Motocross is an expensive sport, yes, but believe me when I say that when it comes time to protect your brain, cutting corners and taking the economy route is never a wise decision. First thing tomorrow, I’ll be dropping my VFX-W by the Shoei offices for an inspection, to ensure that it is still safe to ride in.

Call 714/730-0941 or visit www.shoeisafetyhelmet.com

In the turn at Budds Creek

Although the outside line in a big sand turn isn’t always the fastest, it may be the only one available. For today’s tip, we thought we’d have Ryan Morais remind you how to get through that outside line with ease

ONE: “When you are coming into a corner like this one, it is important to position your body in the center of the bike. Since it is a sand corner, you do not want to be towards the front of the bike because this can cause your front-end to push; however, you do not want to be too far back on the rear of the bike either. If you are too far back, there is a good chance that the front-end will jump out from underneath you if you get choppy with the throttle. By positioning yourself in the center of the seat it displaces your weight equally, allowing you better traction and control over the bike.”

TWO: “Once you’ve entered the turn, make sure you are steady on the throttle. If you come into the turn too hot and bury the bike in the sand, not only will you lose all of your momentum, but you’ll also lose a lot of time. To avoid this predicament, keep things steady with your throttle hand. Roll on the throttle and keep your finger on the clutch in case your RPMs begin to drop.”

THREE: “It is always vital to have your finger(s) on the clutch when you’re railing through a corner like this. There will be times when the turn is just too soft and your bike will begin to bog. This is when you will need to feather the clutch to bring up your RPMs; that way you don’t come to a complete stop, and you can keep your momentum”

FOUR: “As you are going through the apex of the turn you need to weight the outside footpeg. By keeping pressure on your outside footpeg it’ll save you from leaning it over so far that you may tip over. It’s also crucial that you have your inside foot pointed forward and out in front of you –not down and to the side. This is critical in keeping your balance through any corner.”

FIVE: “Lastly: always look ahead… Especially in a corner! Many amateur riders have a bad habit of looking down at their front fender when railing through a turn. When you’re looking down at your front fender it causes you to loose focus of what’s going on and the next thing you know you have either blown out the corner, washed out, or both. If you’re looking ahead, it not only gives you the opportunity to set up for the next obstacle that’s ahead of you, but also you aren’t so focused on the obstacle you are tackling at that moment in time. It’s a hard habit to break, but the sooner you can look ahead and focus on what’s coming up next the faster you’ll become and the more confidence you’ll have.”

Take a closer look at the new One Industries gear with Skip Norfolk.

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Swap caught up with Hart and Huntington’s Josh Hansen last week in Las Vegas. Lil’ Hany looks plenty comfortable on his new 2009 Honda CRF450R already, and got loose for our cameras, in spite of the howling desert wind.

While out at the One Industries gear intro last week, we had a chance to sit down with Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey to get his thoughts on the past few months as well as what he thinks of his new One Industries riding gear. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to also check out the photo gallery from this same day, by clicking HERE.

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Despite heading into the event still suffering the effects of virus Chad Reed has raced to his fourth consecutive win of the 2008 Super X season, at Sydney’s Parramatta Stadium yesterday completing a clean sweep of the new survival format.

An impressive crowd of over 15,000 witnessed the world-wide debut of the new format which saw the 20 rider Super X final field slashed to 15, 10 and finally five through a series of four, five lap races.

The AMA/World Supercross champion topped both practice and qualifying before dominating his heat from start to finish. Reed was once again the fastest man in the shootout and his ride from last to first in the third leg of the survival final brought the enthusiastic crowd to their feet.

The only glitch in Reed’s perfect performance was a 15 second time penalty applied for failing himself to push his bike back to the start gate after the first leg of the final.

“It was really fun out there,” said Reed. “This is definitely the best of the new formats. “This track was tight and I said starts were going to be important, but the third race I was in the back (last) and made it hard for myself. “For me the 15-second penalty was the most exciting and motivating part of the race, I wanted to make that up time in one race.

Reed will now prepare for the fifth round of the series which will be held at
Wollongong’s WIN Stadium on Saturday 15 November and sees the return
of the traditional 20-lap race final.

Super X Top Ten Results
1 Chad Reed, 25

2 Daniel Reardon, 22

3 Jay Marmont, 20

4 Daniel McCoy, 18

5 Troy Carrol, 16

6 Cheyne Boyd, 15

7 Cameron Taylor, 14

8 Aden De Jager, 13

9 Nathan Brochtrup, 12

10 Nathan Crawford, 11

Super X Top Five Championship Standings
1 Chad Reed, 100

2 Jay Marmont, 84

3 Daniel Reardon, 70

4 Cheyne Boyd, 67

5 Daniel McCoy, 62

90 foot step up at our track in scholls OR.. 4th on a 250f

Monster Pumpkin

The Nothern State gloves are a favorite at the TransWorld Motocross offices. We wear these gloves anytime there is a nip in the air, because our hands stay warm but we can still feel the shutter button on our camera.

Sure, you could run you moto gloves when its cold, but that’s lame. So keep those hands warm while you hold your cold beer at Supercross this season with gloves from Von Zipper.

Price: $16.00

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Me and the other old farts

Lake Elsinore Grand Prix

Highlights from Round 3 of the TransWorld Masters of Mini series from Templeton, Massachusetts.

me in the air over my little brother

me doing a whip!

COLORS: Carbon fiber, jet black, matte black, matte white, metallic red, metallic blue, shadow grey, black-red framework (shown), navy-digi slashed (shown)

PRICE: $50

The Crowbar and O Frame have been the staple goggles from the Oakley in recent years, but the optic giant has released the Proven MX frame to add to their moto goggle family. Available in a nine colors, there is bound to be a Proven frame to match the rest of your ensemble. Triple-layer face foam and and Lexan lens round out the performance features of the Proven goggle, while sharp lines and an aggressive profile give it its personality.

We are going to put these to the test and let you know what we think… stay tuned.

Check them out for yourself at www.oakley.com

Click Here to Buy

Yesterday One Industries invited the media out to play ride and camp in the Southern California desert while they introduced their new gear line and their new factory rider, Ryan Dungey. Dungey made a dramatic entrance in a helicopter, and after getting formally introduced, hit the hills and nearby sand dunes for photo ops. Check out some shots below, but don’t forget to check back later for a full video interview with Dungey as well as a video of the new exciting gear.

With A Day in the Dirt drawing near, the TransWorld crew has been lucky enough to get some practice days at the LACR track. This last week, we ran into Troy Lee’s and Jeff Ward’s young ones as they, too, were preparing for the big Thanksgiving weekend race. Seeing the kids out there reminded us just how much A Day in the Dirt is weekend for the whole family. It is as much about the kids as it is the rest of us racers. These kids look forward to ADITD even more than we do…which is saying alot. Anywho, watching the kids on, and off, the track was pretty entertaining, so we thought we’d pass it on to you.

If you haven’t signed up for A Day in the Dirt, you better get on it. It’s your chance to block pass Swap.

Visit www.adayinthedirt.com

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One Industries, the globally renowned San Diego-based motocross apparel and graphic firm, is proud to announce that the company has formed a long term relationship with rising American motocross superstar Ryan Dungey. The new alliance will see Dungey, the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki factory rider, competing in One Industries motocross apparel beginning with the 2009 AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross Championship Series. A runner-up and multi-time race winner in the 2008 AMA West Region Lites Supercross Championship as well as the vice champion and three-time national winner in the 2008 AMA Lites National Motocross Championship, One is thrilled to continue building upon the relationship with the highly talented young rider, tapped by many to be a championship contender aboard his #10 Suzuki RM-Z250F in 2009.

“Ryan has been with One Industries since his amateur days so when the opportunity arose to have him as our first Athlete in the gear we jumped at it,” says Danny Dobey, One Industries Brand Manager. “We are very proud to have Ryan representing ONE. Ryan is an incredible young man and he brings endless possibilities to the brand both in and out of the racing world.

Adds Dungey, winner of the 2008 Dave Coombs Senior East/West Supercross Shootout and the third place finisher in the recent Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Being involved in something new and exciting with a company like One Industries is an unbelievable opportunity for me,” he says. “The designers at One really have the right feel for motocross. From their products to their ads, they just get it! I had the privilege of seeing the 2009 gear before it came out and I knew right then that it would be a hit.”

Athlete Marketing Manager – Janesville , WI

EVS Sports is looking for a motivated person to take charge of their Athlete Marketing Manager position. The ideal candidate will possess great written and verbal communication skills, computer knowledge skills, an understanding of the motocross industry and previous experience in sales, marketing and sponsorship. In addition, the qualified applicant must be competitive, outgoing, team oriented, willing to travel, have an excellent work ethic and understanding of our core market. Candidate will develop, manage and execute all aspects of our Athlete Marketing programs.

Responsibility and Authority

· Provide friendly, timely and accurate communication to EVS athletes

· Attend events in efforts to build EVS brand awareness through sponsored athletes

· Maximize sales, solidify brand image and provide a foundation for future growth of EVS athletes

· Work with Director of Sales to develop strategic marketing plans to increase brand awareness by utilizing EVS athletes

· Manage all aspects of EVS athletes by building, retaining and marketing relationships

· Prepare yearly contracts for rider mailing and resumes

· Set annual promotional rider budgets

· Assist in developing athlete marketing campaigns to achieve company goals

· Grow and maintain current and future top athletes

Required Skills and Experience

· A minimum of 3 years sales or industry experience

· Associate’s Degree or equivalent schooling preferred

· Ability to provide creative solutions, persistent, timely follow through and a high level of detail and accuracy to all projects

· Strong oral and written communication skills

· Ability to prioritize in a rapidly changing environment and demonstrate flexibility

· Intermediate knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and the Internet

Compensation

· Competitive salary and commission program

· Health and dental benefits (effective following introduction period)

· Paid holidays and accrued vacation

Applicant should email their resume and salary requirements to todd@evs-sports.com or mail them to:

EVS Sports – Central Office

Attn: Todd Lentz

119 W. Milwaukee St. – Suite B

Janesville, WI 53548

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2nd to the last race and conditions were great.

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What are you waiting for?? Get your cartoon print today!! hackensmith.com

MATT AND MITCH RIDIN HAIG!!!!

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is proud to announce the 2008 nominees for AMA Sports and All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) end-of-year awards. The winners of these special awards will be announced at the 2008 AMA Sports Awards Banquet on Saturday evening, Nov. 22, at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds, Ala.

These riders and representatives of the sport have gone “above and beyond” during the 2008 season and have earned an opportunity to stand among the very best in all the racing disciplines recognized by AMA Sports and the ATVA.

In addition, hundreds of champions will be honored at the AMA Sports Awards Banquet, held this year at the stunning Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which includes a collection of more than 1,200 historic and rare motorcycles, and is located on the grounds of the world-class Barber Motorsports Park road-race course.

Tickets to the AMA Sports Awards Banquet are $85 and can be purchased online at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. A downloadable registration form is also available. Printed orders can be faxed to: (614) 986-1962, Attn: Cyndi Freeze-Cain; or mailed to: AMA Racing, Attn: Cyndi Freeze-Cain, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.

AMA Sports and ATVA Award Nominees

AMA Sports Athlete of the Year Nominees
Ricky Dietrich, Menifee, Calif. - ISDE
Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa. - Motocross
PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C. - Motocross
Jason Raines, Belfair, Wash. - Hare Scrambles
Stephen Vanderkuur, Davison, Mich. - Ice Race, Flat Track

AMA Sports Vet/Senior Rider of the Year Nominees
Doug Dubach, Tustin, Calif. - Motocross
Rex Fisher, Warren, Ore. - Flat Track
Jeff Fredette, Beecher, Ill. - ISDE

AMA Sports Female Rider of the Year Nominees
Ashley Fiolek, Saint Augustine, Fla. - Motocross
Amanda Mastin, Whitehouse, Ohio - Enduro, ISDE
Leslie Porterfield, Dallas, Texas - Land Speed Racing

AMA Sports Youth Rider of the Year Nominees
JR Addison, Bucyrus, Ohio - Flat Track
Anson Maloney, Cedar Ridge, Calif. - Hare Scrambles
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga. - Motocross
Clint Shobert, Wolfforth, Texas - Road Race

AMA Sports Journalist of the Year Nominees
Dick Lague
Mark Kariya
Shan Moore

AMA Sports Motocross Organizer of the Year Nominees
Freestone County Raceway
MX Sports
Unlimited Sports MX Inc..
Victory Sports

AMA Sports Off-Road Organizer of the Year Nominees
NEPG (National Enduro Promotions Group)
Pro-Motion Motorsports LLC
Racer Productions

AMA Sports Track Racing Organizer of the Year Nominees
Belleville Enduro Team Inc.
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds
Pioneer MC

ATVA Athlete of the Year Nominees
Bill Ballance, Smiths Grove, Ky. - GNCC
Michael Coburn, Garretson, S.D. - Extreme ATVA Dirt Track
Cody Gibson, Englewood, Tenn. - ATV Motocross
Harold Goodman, Romulus, Mich. - Extreme ATVA Dirt Track

ATVA Amateur Rider of the Year Nominees
Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas - ATV Motocross
Jordan Gallagher, Fenwick, Mich. - ATV Motocross
Casey McKibben, Avon Park, Fla. - Extreme ATVA Dirt Track
Donald Ockerman, Marshall, Ill. - GNCC

ATVA Vet/Senior Rider of the Year Nominees
Brian Jenkins, Warren, Ohio - ATV Motocross
Ken Marcou, Millston, Wis. - Extreme ATVA Dirt Track
Thomas Wright, Tabernacle, N.J. - GNCC

ATVA Female Rider of the Year Nominees
Heather Byrd, Union City, Tenn. - ATV Motocross
Traci Cecco, Shamokin, Pa. - GNCC
Paula Shank, Petersburg, Va. - Extreme ATVA Dirt Track

ATVA Youth Rider of the Year Nominees
Walker Fowler, Rogers, Ohio - GNCC
Lake Kuba, Charlotte, Mich. - Extreme ATVA Dirt Track
Jeffrey Rastrelli, Palm City, Fla. - ATV Motocross
Jesse Skvarek, Jefferson, Ohio - ATV Motocross

ATVA Organizer of the Year Nominees
Ozark MT ATV Raceway
Pleasure Valley Raceway
Racer Productions
Red Bud Recreation Inc.
Victory Sports

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate many different roads on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycle organization with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Week One

For its second consecutive year of involvement in Movember, DC is stepping up its support with new contests and opportunities that raise money for the cause. Last year, 81 DC employees dubbed ‘Mo Bros’ raised $48,497. This year, the DC ‘Mo Bros’ are back, and now the participation has extended to include DC’s team riders, Nate Adams and Travis Pastrana.

Nate and Travis are growing Mo’s, so every week we’ll be documenting the growth of their Mo through photo and video updates on here at twmx.com and www.dcshoes.com/movember. Log on to donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation by sponsoring a DC rider’s Mo.

Click below to help support Nate or Travis on their quest for Mo history.

Support Nate Adams’ ’stache

Support Travis Pastrana’s ’stache

GET INVOLVED www.dcshoes.com/movember

Think you can rock the ’stache yourself? email own moustache pic to win a $250 online DC shopping spree.
Submission email: movembercontest@dcshoes.com
Contest details link: http://movember.dcshoes.com/contest

How the ‘Mo’-vement Began
Movember, an Australian non-profit organization, was born in 2003 when a couple of Australian mates were enjoying a beer at a small bar in Melbourne and decided two things – men’s health issues needed a forum and the moustache was in dire need of a comeback. Their goal was to create a campaign that joined like-minded individuals while raising money for charity and having fun along the way.

Since 2003, Movember has turned into a truly global movement. In 2007, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain joined their Aussie counterparts by participating in the campaign. Since Movember’s inception, almost 200,000 Mo Bros have sported a Mo and more than $29 million has been raised globally for prostate cancer research, including $740,568 raised in the United States last year. Movember is the biggest international event supporting prostate canc

Here are some shots from the end of MX mixed in with a few from the Supercross tracks so far this off-season. It’s a virtual MX stew for your viewing pleasure.

It was good to see that pratice was working. This was a great race and the whole team was dialed it.

Railing a berm at Massey MX park sept 2008

me goonin

DC is proud to offer the Movember Ponto sandal. A portion of the proceeds ($5 of every sandal sold) goes directly back to Movember, the global charity event that brings the moustache back each November to raise funds for prostate cancer research. The sandal is designed to reflect the 2008 Movember tag line, “United We Believe,” and features a blue moustache as its hairy ribbon to raise awareness for men’s health issues.

To purchase the DC Movember Ponto sandal or to sign up and get involved in Movember, head to www.dcshoes.com/movember. Every moustache makes a difference.

About Movember
Movember aims to reduce the number of preventable male deaths by raising funds and creating awareness about prostate cancer among males age 25 to 40. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men. One in six American men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, and cases are expected to double over the next 15 years. This makes it the number one cancer threat to the lives and health of men in the country. Funds raised by Movember go directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and will be invested in some of the most promising prostate cancer research being conducted in the world today. Our goal is to find new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat prostate cancer…and one day find a cure.

Everyone needs a toolbox when they go to the track. Some people bring a lot of tools, while others bring nothing more than some t-handles and a pump. But the fact is, your bike needs care before you hop on, in between motos, and especially after a get-off.

For those who still aren’t quite sure what they should have with them when they load up their bike, we decided to compile an ideal list of items that would all fit into a small three-drawer tool chest with top access. How do we know all of this will fit, you ask? Well, we dug through Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Kobi Iseri’s toolbox and this is what we found:

-Metric T-Handles
-Small container for grease
-Sag Tool
-Small container for misc nuts & bolts
-Spoke Torque Wrench
-Air pressure gauge
-Flash light
-Gloves
-Air box cover (for washing bikes)
-Small bicycle air pump
-Tape measure (Millimeters)
-Tire Spoons (3)
-Grip glue
-Razor blade
-Magnetic bowl
-Metric T-Handle Allen heads
-Spring puller
-Chain link breaker
-Assorted screw drivers
-Hammer
-Punch Tool for sag adjustments
-Valve Stem remover
-3/8″ drive Torque Wrench
-3/8″ Ratchet
-3/8″ Deep Metric socket set
-3/8″ assorted extensions
-Pliers, needle nose pliers, channel locks, snap ring pliers
-Black Markers
-Metric Wrenches 8mm (2), 10mm (2), 12mm (2), 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,22,24,27,30,32,

That’s right, all of these items can be crammed into a small toolbox, and they will serve you well. Just ask Suzuki; this one toolbox served them well this year at both TransWorld Motocross 450 and 250 Shootouts.

Nathan Ramsey phoned the TransWorld Motocross offices this morning, wondering if we knew of any motocross industry jobs that were available. We were shocked that the former Western Region 125cc Supercross Champion is actually considering retiring from professional racing, but it seems that the caliber of the offers he’s been getting for the 2009 race season are not worth the risks involved. Though Ramsey does have a couple “long shot” offers on the table, it really does seem like he’s ready to settle into a non-racing position, somewhere within the motocross industry. Interested, or have a lead for Ramsey? You can drop him an e-mail at n8tedawg25@gmail.com

What are your plans for the 2009 season and beyond?
I got a bit of a late start, so I’ve been looking for a job come ‘09. I’ve been down the road with everybody, and I do have a couple of long shot offers out there, but it’s not looking too good. I’ve been doing this for a long time and even though I still feel like I want to race, I’m not willing to do it for free or for as low as the industry has to offer me. I’ve turned down a few offers because the money was just not there. I put in a lot of time, work, and effort when I’m riding and training, so I am not going to put in all of this effort to be paid dirt cheap. If you’re a professional athlete like we are, the chance for injury is great and the pay that some of these teams are trying to offer me isn’t even enough to cover my family if I were to get hurt. Even though I have the desire to race, it has put me into a position where I may need to close this chapter of my life and begin a new one. I would have no problem working in the industry because that’s what I know and love.

You have a wife and two great kids, so you really do need to look at things differently compared to a Lites class kid who does not have a family to take care of or a mortgage to pay…
Yeah. When I go out there, I not only need to think about myself, but also my family. People will probably read this and think that my lifestyle is way above what the average would be, but the truth is I know how this goes and I’ve tried to be smart about things over the last three years or so. I’ve worked hard for the money that I’ve put away and the investments that I have, and I know that I will need to look at retirement in the real world when I get a little bit older. All of these things I’ve saved and accumulated need to be saved for the day when I do decide to retire.

When I stopped by your house a few weeks ago, we were both under the impression that you were going to be a part of the L&M team once again. When did that go south for you?
That whole thing was a weird deal. I’m a little confused about it myself. When I got hurt at the Seattle Supercross is when things seemed to get a little bit strange on the team. There were times when I couldn’t get a hold Larry (Brooks) and stuff like that. It basically got to a point where there was no communication, and I was alienated and left out in the cold. I was never told if I did or didn’t have a job until everybody else found out via the Internet who the team signed for the ’09 season. However, I do want to say that I’m not here to talk bad on anybody, and I had a long career. I hate having bad feelings out there, but I definitely do not feel like I was treated right and at least they could’ve told me that it was over, you know?

Looking back on your career, what are a few of your favorite memories?
I started riding dirt bikes later than a majority of my peers did, so I had to play catch up and work really hard to be where I am today. Obviously my first win at the Phoenix Supercross when I was with Pro Circuit was a big memory. After that is when things started to snow ball and I won the championship. That was awesome. Some of the Las Vegas shootout wins I have are also some great memories. Also, when I won the Michigan Supercross race in the premier class… I have tons and tons of memories. The relationships and people that I’ve gotten to know over the years have made it all worthwhile. I’ve been blessed to be a part of it.

Like most riders, I am sure you want to stay involved in motocross. Are you open to other types of jobs within the industry?
I turned pro in ’93, so I’ve been in this sport for 16 years now and I have a strong connection within the industry. This is the sport that I love, you know? I am definitely open to the idea of jobs within the industry or whatever may be out there. I am open for new things and eager to find out what may be next for me. Like I mentioned, I still have a couple of long shot offers to continue my racing career, but if that doesn’t happen then I am ready to move on and say thanks to the riding career I had and move on the next chapter in my life.

I hope that some of your long shots come through because I don’t think any of us want to see you retire just yet.
Thank you! Thanks for putting this out there and seeing what will happen. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I am ready to take on whatever challenges do come my way. If it’s not racing then I am ready to start learning (laughs).

Cartoon art prints, avaiable at hackensmith.com! Sorry about the watermark, people steal images and sell them on e-bay.

Valencia CA.

SIXSIXONE, the leader in protective apparel and Kyle Chisholm have entered into an agreement that has Chisholm using SIXSIXONE boots and helmets for 2009.

Kyle, will be joining James Stewart on the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha race team and will be riding the number 38 aboard a 2009 YZ450F.

“We are very excited to have Kyle represent the new vision here at SIXSIXONE. There is a dynamic thing happening here and Kyle will be a big part of our marketing effort in the next year” said Erick “Big E” Bartoldus, Director of Marketing.

“When Kyle makes his debut in Anaheim on January 3rd, he will be using our brand new for 2009, top of the line FENIX helmet. Kyle will also be using the all new FLIGHT boot which has been redesigned from the bottom-up. Kyle represents a lot of what we are about here at SIXSIXONE, and we are anticipating a fun and fruitful relationship,” added Bartoldus.

“I really like the new SIXSIXONE helmet and boots. The new Flight boot is awesome! It’s so light and comfortable. I really like the concept of a lighter boot without sacrificing protection.” said Chisholm. The new Fenix helmet that I will be wearing is incredible as well. It has lots of venting, it’s really light, and the graphics are INSANE!” Added Chisholm.
To find out more about SIXSIXONE visit www.SIXSIXONE.com

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halloween race

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YOSHIMURA RS-4 TI/CARBON FIBER EXHAUST
APPLICATION: All bikes (tested here on 2009 Honda CRF450R)
PRICE: $895
RATING: 9
WHAT IT IS: Thanks to its association with the factory Red Bull Honda Racing team, Yoshimura had a head start when it came time to develop an aftermarket exhaust for the exciting new machine. Yoshimura offers four different versions of their system, ranging from $395 for a stainless steel slip on, all the way up to the $895 top-of-the-line titanium/carbon fiber version that they sent us.
HITS: Every Yoshimura exhaust that we’ve ever tested has fit perfectly, and installing the newest RS-4 on the CRF was no exception. The pipe fits beautifully, and the fit and finish of the unit is second to none. Power is noticeably improved throughout the powerband, but the snappy feel and instant throttle response is what we like most about the unit. The biggest gains are felt in the low-end and mid-range as the bike seems to pull a taller gear with greater poise. Thanks to the Duplex Resonance Chamber, which mirrors the stock muffler’s “pre muffler” design, the Yosh system is not much louder than the stock muffler, in spite of maintaining the stock muffler’s diminutive size. We tested with the 99 db insert installed, but the system also comes with an AMA Pro Racing-legal 94db insert.
MISSES: At nearly $900, the Yoshimura system is not cheap! Lucky for most, the $595 stainless steel/aluminum version offers the same performance gains.
THE VERDICT: Any time an all-new bike like the 2009 Honda CRF450R is introduced, aftermarket exhaust manufacturers scramble to produce a good bolt-on system. Thus far, the Yoshimura RS-4 is the best performing system we’ve tested, and we’ve already been able to try out quite a few.
Call 909/628-4722 or visit www.yoshimura-rd.com

Shortly after hearing the news about the new partnership between Jagermeister and the MDK KTM factory team, we tracked down Rick Zeiler of Sidney Frank Importing, the company responsible for the exciting new outside-the-industry sponsorship.
What attracted Jagermeister to motocross, and how did you end up choosing MDK KTM?
Jagermeister has been interested in motocross for many years. We actually looked at sponsoring the Moto XXX team about seven our eight years ago through Jamie Grosser, but the timing wasn’t right for us. I’d say for the past 10 years or so we’ve really been putting our focus on music promotions for the brand, and in order to extend our reach we took another close look at Supercross and it was a perfect fit for the brand. Supercross has a much edgier crowd compared to other sports like NASCAR and the graphics were perfect for the brand, so we decided it was a good fit and the timing was right.

A few years ago I recall seeing the Metal Mulisha guys with Jagermeister logos painted on their helmets. Was there some sort of official sponsorship with them at the time?

Actually there was. We did sponsor the Metal Mulisha about six years ago, and I guess our claim to fame is when Brian Deegan did the Mulisha Twist at X Games and won the gold medal wearing the Jagermeister helmet.

I understand that there is a requirement for the riders on the team that they need to be over 21?

They need to be 21 or over, but if we decide to use them in any marketing materials then they need to be over the age of 25. I believe Charles Summey is under 25 and Travis Preston is over 25. I know you asked me how we ended up working with MDK and KTM, and I guess the answer to that is when we started showing some interest in Supercross we had a lot of people approach us for various sponsorship opportunities, which I am sure you can imagine. We saw that a lot of teams were already associated with drinks: Monster Energy Kawasaki, Rockstar Suzuki, and Red Bull Honda. We then realized that KTM did not have any major brand affiliation and it just seemed like the total package for us because we had KTM, which is from Europe like our brand, but also it came with Mark Kvamme of MDK and everything he brings to the table. He is a huge asset to the team and has a great understanding of business and marketing. So, being able to link up with Mark just felt like the perfect partnership.

Where exactly is Jagermeister produced?

Wolfenbuttel, Germany.

Is this the only sports affiliation that Jagermeister has?

We are actually getting into an area of Rodeo (laughs). We’re sponsoring something that is called The Toughest Cowboy; it is kind of unrelated to any motor sport, but we did do an NHRA sponsorship a couple of years ago that was good the first year and then we decided to discontinue the program during its third year. The Supercross and motocross series is something that we’ve been looking at forever and the time is right, it couldn’t be better. The sport is growing, and I really believe that Jagermeister is going to be a perfect fit out there. Everybody that I’ve spoke with in regards to Jagermeister being involved in the Supercross and motocross events is surprised that we didn’t think of this before (laughs). It’s not that we haven’t, but the timing was just not right.

This is the first time that you’ve mentioned motocross, so is it going to be a Supercross-only contract or will it be Supercross and motocross?
It is for both Supercross and motocross. Our team will be doing both Supercross and motocross, and I am trying to work with Davey Coombs to cut a deal to do the outdoor series as well. That’s work in progress, but the Supercross deal is in inked and ready to go.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see some righteous Internet message board bandits say that it’s a bad idea to bring an alcohol sponsorship into our sport. Have you encountered anything like this and if not, how do you plan to counter it?
People are always going to have their opinions and we certainly respect those opinions, so we subscribe to a council which oversees our sponsorships as well as the entire business. For Supercross, the demographic information that has been given to us meets the criteria. Honestly, if we do encounter such a problem we’ll just address it when we need to. We hope that we have a smooth transition into the sport and that people will see us as something positive in this sport. I can’t speak for Bud Light, but I think we’ll end up bringing a lot more to the table than just Jagermeister, you know? People have their own opinions and we’ll address them when they come up, but we’re very comfortable with our decision and we’re excited about it.

Congratulations to the winners of the Kicker prizes raffled off at TransWorld Motocross’ 2008 Dirt Days Festival!

Entries were submitted at all 3 of the 2008 Dirt Days stops for the chance to win a Kicker IPod Docking System, a Kicker Car Sub Box, or the grand prize of a Travis Pastrana replica bike.

Congratulations to Michelle Morat from Riverside, CA for winning the Kicker system.

Congratulations to Vincent McComb from Denver, CO for winning the Kicker IPod Docking System

And a big congratulations to Kevin Korbel from Littleton, CO for winning the Travis Pastrana replica bike!!!

Be sure to be part of the 2009 Dirt Days Festival for your chance to win great prizes next year.

For more information about Kicker products please visit www.kicker.com

Fly Racing is proud to announce they have re-signed Andrew short to a two-year clothing and helmet endorsement contract. Short will compete in the 2009 AMA Supercross and Outdoor Series—as well as other selected events—wearing Fly Racing’s Evolution Race wear and the all-new Formula MX Helmet.
“We are very excited to have Andrew continue his relationship with Fly Racing,” states Fly Racing’s Terry Baisley, “He is a great racer and an ambassador for the Fly Racing brand that represents himself in a professional manner both on and off the track.”
Watch for the #29 this January 3rd at the first round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series in his 2009 Fly Racing apparel. For more information on Fly Racing products, visit www.flyracing.com.

About Fly Racing
Established in 1996, Fly Racing began as a manufacturer of motorcycle handlebars and helmets and has quickly developed into one of the fastest growing off road riding apparel and hard part brands. Fly Racing develops high-quality products for the competitive and demanding North American market and is distributed in 40+ countries.

Last week, Ashley graced the Wednesday Wallpapers to help celebrate Halloween. Here is some more photos of the blond bombshell with to ‘09 KTM 450SX-F…

Andrew Short to use SCOTT goggles in 2009

Sun Valley, ID - SCOTT Motorsports is proud to announce that Andrew Short has joined the team. Short has signed a two year contact to use SCOTT goggles.

“Andrew has been on our radar, a rider we wanted on the SCOTT team for quite some time, but all the pieces did not fall into place until this year,” said Tallon Vohland, SCOTT pro racing manager. “He is the type of racer SCOTT likes to support; honest, hard-working and dedicated to excellence.”

Short has this to say about his move to SCOTT goggles, “I am really excited to join everyone at Scott goggles.  The confidence of lining up on the starting gate with the best possible goggles will be a great feeling in the upcoming seasons.”

Short is coming off of one of his best seasons ever, placing third in the SX Monster Energy AMA SX Series and then matching that placing in the AMA Toyota Motocross Series. He will begin his quest for a Monster Energy AMA SX Series Championship in Anaheim on January 3, 2009.

www.scottusa.com
SCOTT USA, Inc., established in 1958 and located in Sun Valley, Idaho, is a leading international manufacturer of premium bikes, bike accessories/equipment, motorsports and wintersports products.

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Goon’it like Josh Hill

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My ‘07 kx85. As much as it hurts to say it, performance wise, the bike is completely stock, other than a new spark plug and some aftermarket tire caps lol. I recently painted the front and rear fender black. I am hoping to get a new bike eventually… DEAR SANTA… lol

after I almost ran her over

Le Goon style, this time in Norway!

Nick Dunne doing Cliffhanger @ a Metal Mulisha/Rockstar demo @ Temecula Valley High School hosted by the Us Air Force

Jimmy Fitzpatrick shown here doing a Backflip Nac @ a Metal Mulisha/Rockstar demo hosted by US Air Force at Temecula Valley High School

An old sprocket i used to help make my costume a spectacular one come Halloween night.

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